Gatwick Passenger numbers up by 0.2% in August

2012-09-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — August 2012 traffic performance summary

	Month				Moving Annual Total
			Growth		Sep-11	Sep-10	Growth
	Aug-12	Aug-11	(%)		Aug-12	Aug-11	(%)
Total terminal passengers (000s)	3,833.2	3,825.5	0.2		33,974.2	33,027.6	2.9
Market Analysis:
UK + Channel Islands	348.9	349.6	-0.2		3,794.1	3,647.1	4.0
Ireland	125.1	131.1	-4.6		1,274.4	1,284.1	-0.8
European scheduled	2,066.6	1,985.0	4.1		18,287.9	16,950.3	7.9
European charter	653.9	740.6	-11.7		4,205.5	4,631.6	-9.2
North Atlantic	218.1	230.4	-5.3		1,900.2	1,951.0	-2.6
Other long haul	420.6	388.8	8.2		4,512.1	4,563.5	-1.1
Air transport movements	24,637	24,610	0.1		241,859	242,777	-0.4
Cargo (metric tonnes)	8,437	7,278	15.9		92,991	92,901	0.1

Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multi-sector flights.

Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per traffic summary.

Key Points:

• The Games in early August restricted year-on-year growth to just 0.2% (an increase of 7,700 passengers).
  • Traffic on scheduled services to Europe continued to increase versus the prior year but the growth rate of 4.1% is lower than previous months in 2012
  • Charter traffic to the same region continues to decline and there was also a fall in passengers on domestic and Irish routes
  • New airlines operating routes to the Asian markets helped to increase passenger numbers on long haul routes outside of the North Atlantic by 8.2%.
• The trend of achieving high average load factors (88% in August, comparable with the prior year) continues
• This month:
  • Hong Kong Airlines announced the suspension of their all Club Class direct route from Gatwick to Hong Kong with effect from 10 September, based on the weakening European economy combined with the strength of the regional business within Asia
  • Aegean Airlines announced a daily operation to Athens and Aer Lingus confirmed they will commence a new three daily service to Belfast. Both services will start from the start of the winter season.
  • Gambia Bird – a new German backed airline in Africa – confirmed they will operate a two weekly service to Banjul from the 3rd of October.

 

Commenting on Gatwick’s traffic report for August, Nick Dunn, Chief Financial Officer at Gatwick Airport said:

“The excitement of the Games saw fewer Britons jet abroad on holiday in the first two weeks of August than last year, although there was an increase in late holiday bookings post the closing ceremony and this has continued into September. This saw the overall departing passenger numbers for the month being 1.3% higher than the prior year.”

ENDS